The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has secured a €117,000 (about ₦200 million) research grant from the European Union to develop a solar-powered integrated aquaponics system that combines catfish production with vegetable and maize farming.
According to a statement on Monday by the college’s spokesman, Mr. Adekunle Adams, the grant was awarded under a project titled Integrated Aquaponics System for Sustainable Catfish Production and Dual-Crop Cultivation of Leafy Vegetables and Corn (AQUACLEC).
The initiative is being coordinated by Dr. Funmilayo Doherty, Director of the Centre for Research Support and Grants Management at Yabatech, with technical support from the University of Lagos, the University of Turku, and the University of Lapland.
Adams explained that the AQUACLEC project is aimed at boosting food security through the development of a sustainable aquaponics model that integrates aquaculture and crop farming using renewable energy.
“Yabatech has recorded another major breakthrough in research and innovation after securing a grant of €117,000, equivalent to over ₦200 million, from the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme,” Adams stated.
The spokesman added that the grant would facilitate the establishment of a local innovation hub in Lagos, enable system testing and replication, and strengthen community-based food resilience.
Dr. Doherty attributed the success to Yabatech’s commitment to aligning research with pressing national and global challenges under the leadership of the Rector, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul.
She emphasized that the project is designed to be replicable and scalable across Nigeria and West Africa, leveraging Yabatech’s pool of over 200 PhD-qualified lecturers for research, training, and policy engagement.
“The present administration of the college has consistently supported research proposals and international collaborations that extend beyond the classroom, reinforcing Yabatech’s image as a hub of innovation and social impact,” she said.
The development follows another recent win for the institution under the National Youth Employment Skills Acquisition Framework (NYESAF), where Yabatech trained 200 young Nigerians in digital and creative media skills.
Adams stressed that both the EU grant and NYESAF programme underscore Yabatech’s dual role as a centre of academic excellence and a driver of national development, bridging technical education with real-world needs.
